he dust is finally settling from healthcare reform. As an
industry we are starting to see everyone understanding how
healthcare reform works and will effect them and they are
starting to get back to business as usual and moving forward.
It is nice to see the industry no longer stuck on an uncertain future, not
sure what direction to move in, or even to move at all because of how
unsure they were about healthcare reform Everyone has gotten into
their post healthcare reform routine, and they are finally comfortable
with it. Some may not be happy with it, they may not even like it, but
they finally understand it and are moving forward accordingly. This is
important, because our industry needs to move forward and not be stuck
in time, or so focused on uncertainty that we are afraid to make decisions.

A NEW WELLNESS
INTERVENTION THAT
CAN INCREASE
CANCER SCREENING RATES
FOR EMPLOYERS

30

CANCER IS A CALL TO
ACTION

27

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT CANCER I LEARNED FROM MY
BEST FRIEND

34

AVOIDING CANCER

43

CANCER ~
A CELLULAR PERSPECTIVE

39

EARLY DETECTION IS KEY ~
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

47

EMPLOYER SPONSORED
CANCER SCREENING

FOLLOW
US ON:

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Corporate Wellness Magazine

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w w w. C o r p o r a t e We l l n e s s M a g a z i n e . c o m

June 2011

W
O
R
K
S
I
T
E
W
E
L
L
N
E
S
S

A New Wellness Intervention that Can Increase
Cancer Screening Rates for Employers

A

By Dr. Bruce Sheman

By David Nikka

6

s a component of corporate
wellness programs, cancer
screening provides one
of the most direct and
immediate health benefits.
It requires only simple testing
versus long term, sustained behavior
modification and there is significant
clinical and economic value in catching
cancer early in its most treatable stage.
As such, cancer screening has been an
important benefit design consideration
for employers for a number of years.
Yet despite efforts to increase use
of recommended screening tests,
participation rates have been less
than ideal, such that the benefit of this
valuable wellness component has not
been fully realized. In this article, we
report on the results from a pilot of
an innovative, cost-effective program

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June 2011

that has the potential to significantly
increase cancer screening rates for
employers.

Why Early Cancer Detection
is a Vital Wellness Issue
Most cancers have few symptoms
in their early stages. In general,
symptoms donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appear until the
cancer has grown and perhaps spread,
when the cancer is more difficult to
treat. However, the outlook for cancer
survival and even cure can be very
good if cancers are diagnosed early
in their most treatable stage (Figure
1). This is why many organizations
have promoted the use of and
compliance with cancer screening
guidelines, including those from the

While diagnosing cancer early
improves survival odds, it also
reduces metastatic disease and
the costs and morbidity associated with chemo/radiation
therapy and necessary surgical
treatment. Cancer has been
reported to be the leading cause
of long-term disability and the
second leading cause of intermittent short-term disability for
U.S. employers (Figure 2).

National Cancer Institute, Seer Stat Fact Sheets, accessed 5/2011

Figure 2.

7

Most Frequent Disabling Conditions

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Early detection of cancer
provides the opportunity
for curative treatment and
can minimize the significant
healthcare expense of latestage disease. The cost of
treatment in the last year of
life for cancer patients under
the age of 65 who die of breast,
cervical, prostate or colorectal
cancer ranges from $93,000 to
$129,000 (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Annual Cost of Care for Selected
Cancers vs. Other Causes

Mariott A, et al, Projections of the Cost of Cancer Care in the United
States: 2010â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2020. JNCI 2011; 103:2

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer
reports that companies spend
on average $3,000 in direct
annual medical costs for
employees without cancer vs.
$16,000 for those with cancer.
The National Business Group
on Health states that the cost
of cancer treatment is typically
among the top three most
costly conditions representing
on average 12% of total
medical expenses. The cost of
late stage cancer care is also
rising. For example, according
to the Colon Cancer Alliance,
the cost of early diagnosis of
colon cancer is about $30,000.
In contrast, the treatment cost
for delayed diagnosis ranges
from $120,000 or more with
newer available treatment
options.
This is largely a
result of chemotherapy costs,
which have risen by as much
as 800% between 1996 and
2007 (Figure 4).

Current Status of Cancer Screening mammography. Depending on health benefits
costs and access to care, screening rates for
Colorectal cancer screening has perhaps the individual employers are often even lower.
lowest participation rate of all screening tests,
with nationally reported compliance rates In an effort to promote cancer screening, many
of 54%, according to the Healthy People employers have eliminated out-of-pocket costs
2020
website
(http://www.healthypeople. for screening tests; healthcare reform legislation
gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist. incorporates such first-dollar coverage as well.
aspx?topicid=5).
Approximately one-third This removes the financial barrier for employees
of all women still do not receive annual to seek screening, but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily

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motivate them to get screened. Other factors that
contribute to low cancer screening rates include
lack of understanding the relative importance
and value of cancer screening, perceptions
regarding the testing process and options, as
well as access and convenience concerns.

The telephonic intervention was provided by
ScreenCancer, Inc. which utilizes an outbound
call-center approach and comprehensive,
tailored algorithms optimized for individual
healthcare conversations. The service provided
assessment, education, test facilitation
when requested, and follow-up to maximize
completion of recommended testing.
A
Midwest Employer Study
dedicated call center Navigator was assigned
It is not difficult to appreciate that from an to each participant throughout the program.
employer perspective, regular participation of Cancers included in the screening program were
employees and family members in recommended breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal.
cancer screening represents a source of
value. While employers may be aware of low Participants were contacted at home at times
compliance with one or more cancer screenings, selected during enrollment. The initial call began
few options have been available to meaningfully with a review of each individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal risk
increase screening rates. Recently, an innovative factors and screening history. Depending on
approach to increase cancer screening rates has the information obtained, targeted educational
been developed using individualized telephonic information was provided along with a
decision support. Our study, described below, discussion of appropriate screening options.
evaluates the effectiveness of this program in an For colorectal cancer, colonoscopy was stressed
as the best option (and the only option for those
employer setting.
at increased risk). If participants did not want
colonoscopy, they were offered the option of
Methods
an at-home fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
sent directly to them. Initial calls ranged from
Employees and spouses aged 50 or older of 10-15 minutes, and participants received up to
a county government in the Midwest were three follow-up calls to answer questions and
given the opportunity to participate in a novel track and encourage completion of testing. The
telephonic health outreach program designed program ran for four months from the start of
to increase compliance with recommended enrollment through the last call.
cancer screening guidelines. The program was
voluntary and communicated to employees
by mail, email, benefits meetings and was an Results
offering at an annual health fair. Individuals
could enroll onsite, by phone or on a dedicated One hundred twenty eight individuals signed up
website.
The existing employer self- for the program, with 12 not responding to initial
insured health benefits design had, for some outreach communications. Of the remaining
time, provided first-dollar coverage for all 116, 68 (59%) were already compliant with all
recommended screening tests, so no financial recommended cancer screening, leaving 48 (19
barrier existed to individual compliance with males and 29 females) who were due or past
due for preventive care services, as shown in
testing.

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Figure 5. At the end of the program, 31 (65%) of
these individuals successfully completed all of their
recommended cancer screening services, bringing
the overall compliance of the group to 85%.
The effectiveness of the ScreenCancer Navigatorâ&#x201E;˘
approach in increasing compliance with screening
for specific cancer types is shown in Figure 6. Of the
different types listed, compliance with recommended
colorectal cancer screening demonstrated the
largest increase, with a 27% relative improvement
in overall screening compliance and a post-program
compliance rate of 87%, well above the national
average of 54% (Healthy People 2020).

A post-program survey was also conducted where
participants were asked to rate their experience
with the program on a scale of 1-5 (5 highest).
The overall satisfaction rating was 4 out 5 with the
results of individual categories shown in Figure 7.

Discussion
Existing communication and education strategies to
promote cancer screening have helped to increase
awareness and understanding of the value of testing
and early diagnosis, yet overall screening rates
remain less than optimal. The recently released
Healthy People 2020 goals include a targeted colon
cancer screening rate of 70.5% among adults aged
50-75 years, and increases of 10% for both breast
and cervical cancer screening rates.
The program used in this pilot is based on methods
which have been shown to increase cancer screening
in other settings. These include a study of more
than 1400 patients enrolled in a one-on-one patient
education program similar to the ScreenCancer
Navigator that found patient adherence with
prescribed use of a molecular colorectal cancer test
increased from 29% to 73% (Bagshaw J, Bucher
W, Am J Gastroenterology, 2006;101:S549). Other
studies including variations of telephone outreach to
increase compliance also show significant increase
in cancer screening rates vs. control groups.
The approach used in this pilot was shown to be
efficient at increasing cancer screening rates, likely
due the use of a cancer-focused staff utilizing
computerized decision-support algorithms and
tracking capabilities. This efficiency also allows

for a low per-enrollee cost. Depending of the Figure 8. Colorectal Cancer
size of the company, the cost savings resulting
Screening Test Utilization
from just diagnosing and treating one cancer at an
early stage relative to delayed diagnosis may well
cover the related program costs. Targeting only
known non-compliant populations (established
through HRAs, claims analysis, etc.) could further
enhance cost-effectiveness.
While the results obtained are significant, there are
limitations of the pilot that deserve mention. First,
program participants represent a self-selected
subset of the entire employee population. As a
result, these individuals may well have been more
receptive to changing their use of cancer screening
services. It is unclear how other individuals
who did not elect to participate in the program
would have responded to a similar intervention.
Secondly, the enrolled population had a higher
baseline compliance rate with cancer screening
relative to national benchmarks. However, even
with higher baseline compliance, the observed
increase in colorectal cancer screening compliance
in particular was significant.

1 Insure FIT, Quest Diagnostics

Conclusion
This pilot study has shown that significant increases
in individual participation in cancer screening,
and in particular for colon cancer, can be attained
using personalized and efficient telephonic decision
support. Based on these results and data from other
studies, employers with less than desired compliance
with preventive care services may want to consider
adopting a similar technique to increase screening
participation rates. Broader use of this approach
will help to clarify the value to both employers and
eligible individuals.

It should also be noted that while the program
stressed colonoscopy as the best and primary
option for enrollees who where non-compliant
with colorectal cancer screening, many people
elected to perform a FIT test instead with the
understanding they would be testing annually
(Figure 8). A FIT test, also in recommended
screening guidelines if done annually, it is a
test collected at home and then mailed to a
testing laboratory to check for the presence of
fecal blood, potentially indicative of cancer.
When requested by the participant, the program
provided FIT test education, ordering, tracking,
follow-up and reporting to both the participant
and their physician. This likely accounts for the
high compliance rates for this test when compared
to previously reported results.

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Bio
Bruce Sherman, MD, FCCP, FACOEM, is Director,
Health & Productivity Initiatives with the Employers
Health Coalition of Ohio, providing claims data
analytics and health management strategies to employer
members. Dr. Sherman is also consulting Corporate
Medical Director, Whirlpool Corporation supporting
the development of integrated, value-based health and
productivity management strategies.
David Nikka is CEO of ScreenCancer, Inc. a company that
provides programs to cost-effectively and significantly
increase cancer screening rates for employers, insurers
and other target populations. David has over 20 years
of experience in healthcare, biotechnology, medical
devices and human resources and can be reached at 339223-0573 or dnikka@screencancer.com.

ou may not realise it,
but ovarian cancer is the
leading cause of death (in
the U.S.) from cancer of the
female reproductive system,
according to the National Cancer Institute.
In 2010, 21,880 new cases were diagnosed
and 13,850 deaths were recorded.
Historically, ovarian cancer was called

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the “silent killer” because it was widely
believed that the symptoms were hard
to diagnose. This is now considered to
be poor information because symptoms,
although possible to confuse with other
conditions, are not difficult to notice.
My mother, aunt and cousin have all
succumbed to this disease so I write
with ‘inside’ experience. I’ve seen this

illness manifest in its early
stages and witnessed its course
in my mother’s life very closely.
Because of my family history, I am
now monitored and counselled by
a specialist genetics team. I’d like
to pass on what I’ve learned, and
encourage women everywhere
not to be fearful, but to simply be
aware of certain facts and respond
accordingly.
Pro-active healthcare is the
best thing you can do for your
health. If you understand the
RISK FACTORS (anything
that increases your chance
of developing cancer) and
PROTECTIVE
FACTORS
(anything that decreases your
chance of developing cancer)
you can make changes where
possible.
This is likely to
improve your general health as
well as reduce risk of ovarian
cancer. Remember though, that
these factors are based on your
assumed ‘chance’ of developing
the disease and are not therefore
guaranteed to prevent it. Further
on in this article, I’ll list the most
common symptoms of ovarian
cancer but first, I’d like you to fully appreciate what
you can do now to help yourself or family members.

• Obesity
(although this is not a high risk factor)
• Increased levels of CA125
( a substance in the blood)
• Certain health conditions (Lynch Syndrome)
• Age – older than 55

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Regular exercise
Animal fats, trans-fat and alcohol
Less than 500g per week of red meat
Screening i.e. checking before any symptoms occur
Oral contraceptives
Having a baby
Breast feeding
Having a hysterectomy

As you can see from this list, there are some risk factors
that you can take your own steps to decrease. Equally
there are ways for you to increase the ‘protective’
factors. I don’t offer this as a ‘perfect’ guide list but
it’s the best information available right now. My
own mother had babies; took oral contraceptives;
smoked; breast fed and probably consumed more red
meat and alcohol than is now recommended, so you
can see it’s a grey area. If family history of ovarian
cancer is a concern for you, be vocal in getting your
healthcare provider’s attention and find out whether

June 2011

it’s advisable for you and other women in your
family, to be tested for the ‘mutated’ gene.

Less commons symptoms include:

At the time of writing this article, (May 2011)
there is no standard or routine screening test
for Ovarian Cancer either in the U.S, or in
the U.K. I have been involved in a study
(U.K.F.O.C.S.S.) which has monitored women
who, like myself, have a family history of
ovarian cancer. This study, and similar ones
in the U.S. are seeking to understand whether
current screening tests do in fact, lower
mortality rates from ovarian cancer as so far,
there is inadequate evidence to determine
that they do. Current screening tests include
a blood serum test to check CA125 levels,
an ultrasound screening and a physical
examination.

• Feeling the need to urinate frequently

Therefore, it is critical that women who have
a family history of ovarian cancer ask their
doctor if any screenings are offered. I have
found it really helpful to be recognised for
being at a higher risk (for having the BRCA1/2
gene mutation in my family) and then being
able to educate myself about the healthiest
options for my life style.

SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN
CANCER
The most common symptoms to watch
out for are:

• Shortness of breath
• Unusual vaginal bleeding (heavy periods, or
bleeding after menopause)
It’s clear that any of these symptoms could
relate to a multitude of other illnesses so it’s
important to be aware what is ‘normal’ for you.
Symptoms that do not resolve after treatment
must be checked out and you need to be prepared
to keep asking. In the UK a doctor may only
see a case of ovarian cancer once every 5 years,
so it’s likely that on presenting what might be
digestive disorders, you could face an uphill
battle to get further investigation.
Women often just ‘feel’ something is wrong
but can’t always get the attention they need
for a more thorough diagnosis. According to
the National Cancer Institute’s SEER – 5 year
relative survival rate, a cancer that is ‘localized’
(confined to primary site) has a 92.4% survival
rate; as compared to where the cancer has
metastasized (i.e. spread to a new site in the
body) at 27.2%. You can see it’s better to be a
nuisance than ignore your own gut feel.

Bio

• Pressure and/or pain in the abdomen, pelvis,
back and legs
• A regularly swollen or bloated abdomen
• Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation or
diarrhea that doesn’t go away
• Feeling full very quickly on eating
• Feeling very tired all the time

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Debs de Vries is an internationally recognised
writer and also author of a wide range of personal
growth, self-help and relaxation audios. Her
“Chill meditation” podcasts were the World’s
Number One health download in 2009 and her
audio books - “Guides to Great Self Confidence”
are widely acclaimed.

F
E
A
T
U
R
E
By Dr. Joel Fuhrman
and Bobby Smith

The Colon Cancer Reality

L

ast year alone, over 50,000 people
died of Colon Cancer. It is the
second leading cause of cancer
related deaths of men and women
and is most deadly in many African
American and underserved communities. This
is due, in part, to the lack of comfort about
discussing the disease and proper screening
efforts. The encouraging truth is that this
disease is over 90% curable when detected and
treated early. It is essential for all men and
women to be screened for colorectal cancer
by age 50 and African Americans at age 45.
If there is a family history of colon cancer a
Gastroenterologist or ColoRectal Surgeon will
provide screening guidelines.

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The colon is one of those body parts we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
pay much attention to unless itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not working
properly or something goes wrong, but it is a
vital contributor to overall health. As part of
the digestive system, it is primarily responsible
for the absorption of water and minerals and
the elimination of waste. The colon plays
important roles in immune function, acts as a
barrier protecting us from toxins and harmful
bacteria, and supports the growth of millions of
friendly bacteria that further digest some types
of food, produce vital nutrients and further
contribute to healthy immune function. These
are just some of the reasons why is so important
to be proactive in protecting this important
organ.

Maintaining a healthy weight, staying active,
choosing a diet high in fruits, vegetables, fiber
and whole grains while avoiding too much red,
processed meats and not smoking are key to
maintaining colon health and also to preventing
colon cancer. In fact, more than half of all colon
cancers can be prevented by healthy lifestyle
choices alone. Screening for colorectal cancer
is also important. Ninety-five percent of colon
cancer cases can be cured if detected early, yet
screening for colon cancer consistently lags
behind screenings for other types of cancers.
This is one reason why colon cancer remains
a leading cause of cancer deaths in both men
and women despite being one of the most
preventable and curable forms of cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends that
people lower their risk of developing colorectal
cancer by managing the risk factors that they
can control, such as diet and physical activity.
Diets high in vegetables and fruits have been
linked with a lower risk of colon cancer, and
diets high in processed and/or red meats have
been linked with a higher risk. The American
Cancer Society recommends:
• Eat a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant
sources.
• Choose foods and beverages in amounts that
help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat 5 or more servings of a variety of
vegetables and fruits each day.
• Choose whole grains rather than processed
(refined) grains.
• Limit consumption of processed and red
meats

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Highly respected physician, author,
speaker, and a regular contributor
to the Foundation Joel Fuhrman
M.D. comments below
For those desiring more powerful protection,
these guidelines are not sufficient and are
still somewhat vague. For example, it is well
established that 5 servings of fruits and vegetables
a day is still not ideal for cancer protection.
This recommendation was made to improve the
diet-style of Americans, whose typical grocery
baskets are dramatically lacking in these
protective foods, but the recommendation is still
sub-optimal. The recommendations as a whole
were established in response to the dismally
low intake of vegetables being consumed in
America, and do not represent an ideal. The
most recent scientific advancement in the anticancer research is the identification of specific
foods and food elements that offer powerful
protection against cancer.

June 2011

of life, because they promote heart disease and
dementia too.
The goal is to gradually reduce even the non-red
meat animal products in your diet until youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re
only consuming them two to three times per
week, but even at that low level of consumption
the choice of animal products should exclude
or only rarely consume processed meat and
barbequed meat.

Sugar and White Flour and Cancer
It has been hypothesized that levels of
triglycerides, glucose, and insulin are associated
with increased risk of colon cancer and that diets
high in simple sugars and white flour increase
risk of colon cancer because of their impact on
these factors. There are interesting similarities in
the epidemiology of colorectal cancer and adult
onset diabetes. In a number of studies, diabetic
patients have been shown to have an elevated
risk of colorectal cancer and non-diabetics with
elevated postprandial glucose levels also have a
higher risk of colorectal cancer than individuals
with normal glucose tolerance.

Meat and Cancer

Accumulating epidemiologic evidence indicates
that high consumption of red meat and processed
meats increases the risk of colorectal cancer. A
meta-analysis assessed the association between
red meat and processed meat consumption and
the risk of colorectal cancer from 29 studies.
It showed a clear dose-response relationship,
confirming higher intake corresponds with more
One explanation for these associations is that both
cancers and a lower intake with less.
diseases are linked to becoming overweight and
The consumption of red meat and processed the resultant metabolic effects and heightened
meats on a regular basis more than doubled the inflammation that results, but it is interesting
risk of some cancers. Even ingesting a small to note the evidence supporting the possibility
amount of red meat, such as two to three ounces that chronic exposure to diets rich in rapidly
a day, was shown to significantly increase assimilated carbohydrates may act directly
the risk of cancer. Red meat and processed as a promoter of colorectal carcinogenesis.
meats contain more saturated fat and trans fat Considering that both animal products and
than other animal products, and, therefore, are processed foods supply us with a rich caloric load,
poorer food choices. These foods must not be but not with antioxidants and phytochemicals
a regular part of your diet if you are looking to necessary for the normal function of cells and
maintain excellent health into your later years the immune system, it may also be the lack of

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these nutritional elements that are important (as
low-nutrient carbohydrates make up a higher
percentage of total caloric intake). Free radical
production increases and chronic disease develops
as the level of produce decreases in the diet and
the combined consumption of animal products
and processed foods increases.

radicals in check, but even more fascinating is
the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability (when fueled with a sufficient
amount of these greens) to repair broken DNA
cross-links and modify the expression of genes
that influence the risk of colon cancer.

Vitamin D and Cancer

Epidemiological evidence supports the direct
association between simple carbohydrates and
risk of colon cancer. A population study reveals
a particularly heightened risk when a diet high
in refined carbohydrates is associated with a
sedentary lifestyle.

Studies in recent years have added more support
to the idea that higher levels of vitamin D may
decrease risk of colorectal cancer. Further,
typical dietary intakes such as 200-400 IU/day
may be too low to exert appreciable benefits,
and protection may occur with higher levels
of vitamin D. Recent studies also suggest a
Vegetables and Cancer
potential benefit of vitamin D on other digestivetract cancers, and that vitamin D status at the
Even though the key dietary strategy for time of diagnosis and treatment may influence
preventing cancer of the large bowel is to cancer survival
For most Americans not
increase your intake of fresh vegetables and living in and working outdoors in southern
fruits (especially vegetables) while lowering states, supplementation with 100 to 3000 IUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
the amount of animal products and meat eaten, optimizes serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels
the evidence that eating more green vegetables for protection against cancer and osteoporosis.
is protective for cancers of the colon and The ideal levels can be confirmed with a blood
rectum, lung and prostate -- is building into an test.
avalanche. Cruciferous vegetables (the cabbage
and broccoli family) are simply the most Eat For Health ~ Effective For All
powerful weapon against all forms of cancer and Health Conditions
especially colorectal cancer.
The foundation of nutritional science can be
Cruciferous vegetables have been studied explained by my simple formula: H = N / C or
extensively for their chemo protective effects. Health = Nutrients / Calories.
In experimental animals, cruciferous vegetables
have been shown to inhibit chemically-induced This is a concept I call the nutrient density
colon cancer. Human studies show a huge of your diet. The key to both longevity and
protective effect; people who were regular healthful weight loss is to eat predominantly
consumers of these foods had approximately 60 those foods that have a high proportion of
percent less cancer.
nutrients (non-caloric food factors) compared
to calories (carbohydrates, fats and proteins).
Cruciferous vegetables act by altering the Maintaining a favorable body weight is an
metabolism of carcinogens present in cooked important component of an anti-cancer lifestyle.
food, such as the heterocyclic amines. They help
the body eliminate carcinogens and also keep free A food is healthy or not-so-healthy based on

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how much fiber, phytochemicals, antioxidants,
minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and other
unnamed (or yet to be discovered) nutrients it
contains in proportion to its calories. You can
grade food quality, construct menus, and make
food choices to support excellent health. Once
you know which foods have the highest nutrient
density, you will become an expert in nutrition and
weight loss. It is that simple.

Bio

Eating large quantities of high-nutrient foods is
the secret to optimal health, disease prevention
and maintaining a healthy slim waistline. The
health equation describes a way of eating that is
truly a longevity diet, yet it effortlessly has you
achieve an ideal weight and it is an anti-cancer and
anti-heart disease diet-style.
A typical anti-cancer diet should contain at least
3 fresh fruits daily, at least one large raw green
salad, as well as a two other cooked (steamed)
vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots and peas,
squash or other colorful vegetables. A huge pot of
soup ladened with vegetables, herbs and beans can
be made once a week and conveniently taken for
lunch. Raw nuts and seeds are another important,
but often overlooked food with documented health
benefits contributing to longevity.
Many individuals are choosing to modify their
lifestyle to improve their health or reverse diseases.
Unrefined plant foods and phytochemical support
is the foundation of an anti-aging lifestyle. Most
diseases are effectively treated and in many cases
completely reversed through aggressive nutritional
intervention. Uncovering the cause, and fueling
the miraculous natural repair systems that are
built into your body is always a better choice that
results in a more favorable outcome, rather than
covering up symptoms with medications. More
information on my cutting edge approach to health
and longevity can be found at my website www.
drfuhrman.com and in my Eat To Live book.

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Bobby Smith, Executive Vice
President, Susan Cohan Colan
Cancer Foundation.
Susan Cohan Colan Cancer
Foundation (Susie’s Cause) is a
national grass-roots organization headquartered
in Baltimore that has established itself as the
National voice for the screening, prevention,
and early treatment of Colon Cancer. The
Foundation is striving to eliminate Colon
Cancer as a life threatening disease through
the development and the dissemination of
educational programs designed to increase
screening.
Since the inception of the
Foundation colon cancer has experienced
the greatest reduction in cancer deaths in the
United States.
Susie’s Cause was named for Susan Cohan, a
courageous young woman who was committed
to changing these statistics. It was her vision
that by encouraging both prevention and early
detection through innovative educational and
outreach programs the Foundation would
not only help spare others from unnecessary
suffering and deaths from colon cancer, but
would also be a trusted source of information,
hope and support for those facing colon
cancer, and for those researching ways to more
successfully treat this disease.
For the past 6 years Susie’s Cause has
established itself as the National Voice for the
prevention, screening, early detection and the
treatment of colon cancer.
For more information about Susie’s Cause, visit
our website at www.coloncancerfoundation.
org or call 410 244 1778.

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7 Strategies

for Preventing Cancer in
Your Corporate Employees

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W
O
R
K
S
I
T
E

By Dr. Walter Gaman

By Dr. J. Mark
Anderson

W
E
L
L
N
E
S
S

N

o one wants to hear that an employee has cancer. The news of
such a devastating disease brings images of emotional sadness
and uncertainty. Once the shock of the diagnosis wears off, the
reality of the associated healthcare costs and lost productivity
can send a corporation into panic mode. Employees are
the human capitol that drives the success of any business and losing
a member of the team can cause a significant impact. Many industry
leaders have embraced a sense of corporate responsibility when it comes
to helping employees stay healthy. Here are a few things that you can do
to help prevent cancer before it starts.

and the symptoms to look for, you can empower
them to be proactive about their health. Never
assume that everyone knows the basics – because
most people don’t.
Just like the old adage “an ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure”, cancer prevention
can cost significantly less than cancer treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society
1,529,560 are predicted to get cancer in 2011.
In 2010, cancer costs were over $263 billion.
Most of this cost impacted employers through
healthcare costs and loss of productivity within
the workplace. Cancer education is the best
prevention strategy and the workplace provides
a captive audience ready to be educated. Show
your employees that you care about their health
and wellbeing and it will also improve morale
and increase productivity. Educating employees
can help save lives and protect the bottom line.

Strategy #2: Encourage and
Promote Good Habits
Most cancers are preventable or easily treatable
if found early. Employees should be encouraged
to take a day off for their annual physical exam.
One way to encourage this in the workplace
is to provide a paid day off that is specifically
dedicated to this purpose. Women should also be
educated that a physical exam goes beyond the
annual pap smear and men should be encouraged
to have their prostate checked.
Health fairs within the work place are a great
start, but should never take the place of an
annual exam. These should be geared toward
promoting health and educating employees on
healthy habits. As an employer you may want to
consider a reward system for employees that are
proactive by attending health fairs and making
sure they have their yearly physical examination.

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Strategy #3: Counteract Stress
Most patients report that work is the main source
of their stress. Finding creative ways to decrease
stress and anxiety in the work place will not only
encourage higher productivity, but may reduce
healthcare costs. Many diseases, including cancer,
have been linked to stress and a person’s inability
to relax. Some large corporations have provided
employees with a gym and other creative outlets
that help elevate mood and control the harmful
effects of work related pressure.
Unfortunately, most of the workforce consists
of those with sedentary jobs. As an employer,
you owe it to your employees to help them get
moving. If your company is too small to provide
a gym, find other ways to encourage exercise.
Having a morning or lunch time “boot camp”
is a great way to encourage staff to decompress
together. Exercise is a great way to decrease the
risk of cancer while improving mood and overall
health.

Strategy #4: Nix the Nicotine
Smoke breaks are a thing of the past. Take a
stand against cigarette smoking by creating a
smoke-free environment. Nicotine is related to a
number of illnesses, including cancer. Employers
who provide places for employees to smoke are
enabling them to continue with a bad habit that
not only can harm them, but also the company.
In the US, employers pay an average of $2189
on employee compensation claims for smokers,
versus $176 for their non-smoking employees.
Furthermore, smokers are ill more often and
miss an average of 6 days a year, 3 more than the
non-smoker. Having a smoke free environment
will also give a corporation an advantage when
negotiating health, life, and disability insurance
rates.

June 2011

The US Surgeon General concluded that smokefree work environments decrease the amount of
tobacco use and also increase the success rate of
those who are trying to stop smoking. Current
and former smokers make up 90% of all lung
cancer cases, so become a corporation that takes a
stand and help your employees help themselves.

encourage good nutrition in the workplace and
in their cafeterias. Bringing in a health expert
to explain how nutrition can play a role in
cancer prevention could also be a benefit to your
organization.

Strategy #5: Go Green

Good health starts at the top and gains momentum
as it spreads through the company. Executive
physical examinations are a great way to raise
awareness, as well as educate the top talent
about their own health. C-Level executives are
the gears of a corporation and need to maintain
optimum health so that they make good decisions
while working efficiently and effectively.

Strategy #7: Lead by Example

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is the cause of
illness in many employees. Even a new building
can cause employees to feel ill due to their
choice of cleaning products. Harsh chemicals
often contain Volatile Organic Compounds or
VOCs, a type of toxin that leads to indoor air
pollution and ultimately cancer. Talk to your
cleaning company or staff and only allow green Finding cancer and other illnesses early, when
commercial cleaning supplies.
they are still in the treatable and curable stages, is
the purpose of an executive physical exam. These
If your company is building or remodeling, be half day physicals are an investment in your top
sure that carpet and paint choices have low or talent and one that could save your company from
no VOCs. These products have become more a huge upset down the road. Make an investment
readily available and are now more competitively in the wellness of your leaders and watch them
priced.
help lead others to better health.
Your company has a great opportunity to make
a huge impact in the health of your employees.
Small things can make a big difference in the
Employees will eat at least one, maybe two, prevention of cancer and other illnesses. Be a
meals during the course of their work day. The leader and take proactive steps to protect your
employer has a prime opportunity to promote best investment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; your employees.
healthy eating habits. Snack machines and
corporate cafeterias should avoid foods that
contain artificial sweeteners and additives.
Drs. Walter Gaman and J. Mark Anderson,
Foods that are found in nature have the best
experts in preventative and proactive medicine,
health benefits.
are managing partners of Executive Medicine
of Texas. They have co-authored the book Stay
Good nutrition is the first line of defense against
Young: 10 Proven Steps to Ultimate Health
cancer. For example, berries, green tea, and
and co-host the popular Staying Young Radio
whole grains are just a few foods that have
Show. You can learn more about them by
cancer fighting properties. Companies should
visiting www.emtexas.com.

Strategy #6: Promote Healthy
Nutrition

Bio

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E
D
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T
O
R
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By Laurie Jones

Everything I Know About Cancer
I Learned From My Best Friend

S

ix years ago, my friend,
whom I shall call Susan, sat
before her home computer,
poised to send one of her
elegant emails, unaware that
the next few minutes would tip her life
over and break it.
Her husband, Steve, was in the
basement working on a project when
he heard a loud and uncharacteristic,
meaty crash. It sent him up the stairs
two at a time to find Susan in full
seizure on her office floor.

right front quadrant of Susanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brain.
Cancer is a strange word. It sounds like
none of its off-spring, yet they all sound
like each other. Glioma, sarcoma,
lymphoma, blastoma, and melanoma
are just some of their names. The list
goes on into the night.

First, Susan had surgery. She hid the
halo of shorn scalp from the incision
under silk headbands until her hair
grew in to cover the evidence. Only
we who knew her had any idea she was
in the fight of her life. She was not
At the hospital, they took countless alone. Her sister-in-law knew many
x-rays and scans. Those pictures were of the best oncologists and radiologists
not worth a thousand words, they were and neurologists in the region, and
worth one word: Cancer. A glioma nearly sat on their doorsteps until
was drifting like smoke through the Susan became their patient. Steve

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decided to learn everything he could about her
condition. Susan joined Gilda’s Club, a cancer
support group. What she heard there and said
there was sometimes uplifting, even hilarious,
and sometimes very difficult to hear and say, but
it was truth by the spoonful, and strong medicine
in itself.
Susan went on her annual trip with some of her
girlfriends exactly as planned, if moved back a
bit. I couldn’t join them as I live 1,700 miles
away, but she and I talked nearly every day, about
cancer, about her husband and her cat and about
nothing, which in a lifetime is the real something.
It is a luxury to take the time to talk about nothing.
Susan’s musings were always elegant, like her
silk headbands, slipped on at the last moment.
Next, Susan had radiation therapy. Susan’s
MRI’s were very clean, but with cancer, you keep
polishing even when the spot looks immaculate.

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She was praised constantly by the staff for her
utter stillness during the sessions. Hair loss
was expected, but Susan’s hair had grown back
completely, and it decided to stay. As before,
Susan’s body conspired with her to hide her
secret.
She began to collect jokes and funny thoughts to
share at Gilda’s Club. I decided there had to be
good words that ended in “-oma.” You could see
a rodeo in Oklahoma. Near San Diego, you could
drive out to see the lighthouse on Point Loma.
How about some jewelry from Picasso’s daughter,
Paloma? The more ridiculous, the better. Susan
must have been a highlight at Gilda’s, because,
simply by being there, she banished some of the
fear that walked into the room with all of the
attendees. The assortment of people, young and
old, well and less-well, changed at each meeting,
but the support never changed.

June 2011

was the next minute that touched me. She sat up
and started to talk about the lions we saw in their
glass enclosure at the MGM Grand Casino, and
how they could come near you in all their power
but couldn’t reach you. You were free to admire
and respect each other at close range without
danger. So there was Susan’s magic: she and her
cancer were respecting each other at close range.
Six years on, Susan is still with us. Susan has
changed, not in her serenity but in her condition.
The lions approach the glass more often now.

Most recently, Susan had chemotherapy. It is the
treatment most cancer patients dread because of
the side-effects. Again, Susan dodged the overt
signs of her condition. She did have spells of
mild distress, but none of the usual grim hours
when the world sells out of peace and comfort.
The trips to the hospital became a time to write
and chat. Other patients near her during the IV
drip procedures took strength from her absolute
calm.
Only once did I feel the full impact of my friend’s
struggle, because she kept it from all of us so
carefully. We had the great luck to work together
as exhibitors at a major conference in Las Vegas.
It was just a few months after her surgery, and
she still wore the headbands that had become her
fashion trademark. We shared a hotel room, had
dinners together, and generally became seventeen
again, the year in our lives when we met, and
when anything is possible. One evening, we had
just come back from seeing the fountains dance
in front of the Bellaggio. Susan sat on her bed
and removed the headband. The motion seemed
to take all of her strength, as if she were shedding
heavy armor after battle. She wilted against the
pillows. For that minute, the cancer won. But it

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Everything I know about cancer I learned from
my best friend. You are not a victim of cancer. You
are on the opposing team. Serenity does not mean
surrender. You are important, you have friends
who have important friends, or your friends are
important, and they can help you get the expert
advice which you alone might miss. Keep those
appointments, and take those vacations, and
do nothing once in a while. Humor is the best
prescription never written. Look for the surprise;
look for the strange and ridiculous. Healing is
hidden in the funniest places. So is love.
Susan’s life did tip over and break, but the glue of
family and friends, expert care, medical miracles,
and humor can forge a stronger life out of the
pieces. A winery tour in Sonoma, anyone?

Bio
Laurie Jones is a Wellness Consultant and
Regional Vice President with The American
Institute for Preventive Medicine, a leading
provider of wellness and health promotion
products and services. Visit our website at
www.Healthylife.com, or you may contact the
author at ljones@healthylife.com

Cancer is a Call to

Action

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E
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By Jackie Savi-Cannon

C

ancer is a life threatening
illness much like a heart
attack is a life threatening
occurrence. Yet somehow
the perception of the two is
very different. Each equally shocking
and life changing, yet cancer doesn’t
seem to carry the same optimistic
quality of life connotations associated
with heart attack survivors. I believe
this is partially due to the gruesome
and aggressive approach taken
treating cancer. The reality is we don’t
cure cancer in the way we cure other
illnesses. We kill it before it kills us
and the side effects of the treatments
can be as bad as the illness itself.

known. The problem lies in the
laundry list of symptoms that go along
with receiving this medicine. In many
cases you feel more is being destroyed
than what survives and is healthy.
Let us not forget the dreaded hair
loss. The nurturing side of medicine
has spawned many treatments and
support programs to weather this
long and daunting storm. I often felt
guilty for those that suffered other
life threatening illnesses who didn’t
get as much fanfare. All joking aside,
cancer recovery does take years. That
is a FACT. The depth at which this
experience changes a human being
cannot be ignored. It goes much deeper
than the physical manifestations of the
Those of us diagnosed find careful cancer. If one can begin to understand
ways to interpret statistics. Although this, the opportunity to thrive presents
the study of oncology has grown itself.
tremendously, the aggressive nature
still remains. In layman’s terms, In an age when we finally understand
chemotherapy is a medicine that can be that treating our employees like
delivered in various ways. Radiation dispensable/replaceable assets hurts
is elusive in the way it enters your the balance sheet at the end of the day,
body but it does make its presence it is critical to understand that disease,

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including mental illness, affects at least 1 in 3 people.
Simply put, if you haven’t had cancer yourself you
probably are close to someone who has. You may
even have lost someone you love. I believe one of
the reasons I had such a positive experience and
outcome was that my cancer was detected early.
Time of detection can be a game changer for any
individual. More often than not, it dramatically
changes your survival chances. Hearing 15-20%
chance of reoccurrence with aggressive therapy is
very different than hearing 15-20% survival rate
with aggressive therapy. The fact of the matter
is more and more people are surviving because
of strong and ‘effective’ prevention campaigns.
Sadly I still see funding and effortsdirected towards
programs that are no longer effective. It is important
to understand that what worked 5 years ago may not
be as relevant today. The face of the cancer patient
care is changing. Surviving Cancer is no longer
acceptable. Thriving and Quality of Life is and
must be the focus. It is about positioning the newly
diagnosed individual for the most optimal outcome.

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People are often moved by my story with cancer,
however, what I must remind them of is that I didn’t
do it alone. More often than not the diagnosis is so
overwhelming that patients can’t bring themselves
to tell their loved ones. On hearing a cancer
diagnosis, the immune system and mental strength
is instantly compromised by the burden of carrying
such stress alone. In most cases, once a patient enters
medical and social/psych type of care, their ability
to cope dramatically improves. Connecting newly
diagnosed patients to proactive support resources is
vital. As the concept of company wellness evolves,
specialized programs that deliver support from
diagnosis to return-to-work are emerging. The
support will evolve into restoring and ‘reorienting’
programs preparing individuals for their new reality
and thriving in their own new world. Sadly, today,
these types of practical support programs are not
widespread with the focus still on getting people
past the diagnosis, through treatment and returning
home.

June 2011

Many prevention programs are moving in a
direction that are targeting a deeper issue; our
reactive lifestyles. We are a culture that waits
for the train wreck to occur and then sources
out the path of least resistance to put the pieces
back together. As complimentary therapies
are rapidly being integrated into treatment
plans, we are also seeing the benefits of
incorporating these proven preventative actions
into the workplace. Investment is moving into
interactive educational and physical programs.
Traditional ‘talking head’ lunch and learns need
add-ons. Great strides have been made with
awareness campaigns - everyone is quite aware
of cancer. Our focus now should be to provide
convenient outlets to ensure people are aware of
the most relevant and innovative resources and
programs out there to help them. For example,
some programs are beginning to include the
following strategies:
• allowing windows for restorative activity at
work in order to maintain, or decrease stress
levels;
• utilizing programs that go beyond medicine
and facilitate healing the entire individual.
We believe that a strong mental state allows
for optimum interaction with doctors and
caregiversand facilitates healthy interactions
generally, including at the workplace;

C’s to consider, Communication, Compassion
and Collaboration. Supporting your loved one,
coworker or yourself in finishing the story that
was so abruptly halted due to a cancer diagnosis
requires a collective effort to move beyond
something that is so dreadfully feared. An open
respectful dialogue allows a person dealing
with cancer treatment to enjoy a quality of
life that we are all entitled to despite what our
circumstances are at any given moment. Let this
month of cancer awareness bring about a new
look to cancer survival. I am not just referring
to improving survival statistics.
Let’s raise the bar and work collaboratively
through many disciplines and commerce to
facilitate richness and fulfillment all people can
feel after overcoming something so traumatic.
Surviving cancer is no longer acceptable.
Thriving with a new and sometimes different
quality of life, MUST, be the new standard.
Survivors, healthcare providers, employers etc.
must all pull together to make this happen. As
our digital age proves daily, we can be faster with
less effort, let’s apply this and forge ahead with
this initiative but instead aim for a life changing
outcome!

Bio

• integrating remote work days into the company
model. This trend is prevalent in most industries
and lends itself extremely well to someone who
requires flexibility due to appointments and
fluctuating energy levels; and
• recognizing and funding organizations that are
breaking barriers such as Urban Zen, Canadian
Breast Cancer Network, Wellspring.
Living with Cancer means exactly that - living
not just existing. There are other important Big

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Jackie Savi-Cannon, B.
Ed, CYT, is the
Director of Programming for JSC Lifestyle
Management Inc., a wellness production house;
creator of the RNR Program. This Program is an
online portal website which gives users instant
24/7 on-demand access to High Definition
Video and Audio modules which deal with stress
reduction, healthy work & lifestyle practices
such as time management, communication and
conflict resolution.

Avoiding

Cancer

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F
E
A
T
U
R
E
S

T
By Dr. Kathy Gruver

here are certain phrases
that people dread hearing
in their lifetime, “Let’s
just be friends”, “We have
to talk” and “You have
cancer”. The last phrase can instill
fear and panic in the hearts of even
the strongest people. Since the war
on cancer began things have only
gotten worse and you may wonder
if modern medicine has the weapons
needed to fight the war properly.
Perhaps the mêlée should be fought
on a smaller battlefield, inside each
of us. What can we do to protect
ourselves from cancer and fight it off
if diagnosed with it?
Cancer is the uncontrolled replication
of cells. This happens all the time in
our bodies and the immune system
deals with the problem. When cancer
takes hold however, we must boost
the immune system to help fight. But

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what are some things that lead to
cancer?
Studies have linked a high fat diet
to increased risk of breast and colon
cancer. (1) Cutting back on foods
that are heavy in saturated fats like
red meat and processed foods can
help reduce that risk. Increasing
foods that are rich in phytochemicals
such as fruits and vegetables help
keep your immune system strong
and eliminate free-radicals. Also,
estrogen has been shown to be related
to breast and uterine cancer, among
others. (2), (3) Estrogen is stored in
body fat, so maintaining a healthy
weight is valuable.
We all know that smoking is bad
news leading to both lung and bladder
cancers, and that we should avoid this
nasty habit. Avoid being in enclosed
areas such as cars while someone is

smoking and definitely avoid smoking around the Source, “Exercise stimulates the production
children and pets.
of endorphins; neurotransmitters that occur
naturally in the brain and make us feel good.
Though we have seen a large increase in It brings oxygen to our blood and the more
the availability and consumption of organic oxygen in the blood, the less hospitable the
products, we are still inundated with “Franken- environment to cancer”. (4)
foods.” These are foods that have been
genetically modified or altered, which are What if we do find ourselves with a cancer
also called GMOs or Genetically Modified diagnosis? Though chemotherapy, radiation
Organisms. Right now some of our largest and surgery are offered by Western medicine,
crops are GMO; corn and soy being the most there are far less invasive natural alternatives
prevalent. Monsanto, a multi-national company that can boost your healing.
is leading the way in patenting GM seeds and
genetically modifying our foods. They are Increase vitamin C. I mean tons of it. Bowel
making billions and we are being subjected to, tolerance is a way to tell when the body is done
what I believe to be, the biggest human science accepting it. If you spread the doses throughout
experiment in history. Regulations are very the day, it’s more easily tolerated and absorbed.
lax in this country regarding these practices Too much causes diarrhea, so you don’t want
and the food is not only assumed to be safe to get to that point. If it happens, back off the
without much testing, but labeling is not a dose.
requirement. Beware of foods containing high
fructose corn syrup and soybean oil since these It’s believed that cancer cannot live in an
not only indicate a highly processed food, but oxygen-rich or alkalized environment. Deep
also one that is probably genetically modified. breathing is beneficial as is a hyperbaric
chamber if you can find one. A hyperbaric
You may be wondering what genetically chamber looks like a tanning bed and delivers
modified foods have to do with cancer. Well, oxygen at a pressure higher than atmospheric.
unfortunately the jury is still out on that subject. The patient stays in for 30-90 minutes and this
Since these foods were not thoroughly tested high pressure oxygen can help cellular health,
before release and we don’t know ultimately anti-aging and clearing toxic residue. (5)
how these modifications are going to affect Liquid Oxygen is available from health food
our own DNA, or combine with each other we stores to drip into water. As far as alkalinity
cannot predict what the ramifications will be. I goes, there are supplements available in most
advise you to avoid GMOs and let your grocers health food stores, as well as filtration systems
and government know you won’t tolerate these that alkalize the drinking water. Also, a diet
current food practices.
rich in green leafy vegetables and other alkaline
foods can contribute to a state of alkalinity.
Besides eating organic food and cutting back
on saturated fats, what else can we do to stay Studies have shown how important attitude is
healthy? How about exercise? Exercise with cancer outcome. A fighting spirit wins.
reduces body fat, boosts immune function and This is the biggest competition you will ever
gives you a good outlook on life. According to be in and fighting and staying positive will
Sara Rosenthal, author of Stopping Cancer at work wonders. Surround yourself with people

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who love you and tell them to remain positive
when around you. Prayer is very powerful and
people in a group thinking the same healing
thoughts can be very beneficial.
Eliminating
anything
processed
is
recommended. Chemicals and preservatives
in food just give your body something else to
fight. Whole foods, fruits and vegetables are
key. I personally recommend avoiding wheat
and dairy as they can be hard on the digestive
system. Keeping up nutrition is very important
and a good multivitamin, mineral and amino
acid formula would be valuable. Some experts
recommend a macrobiotic diet, or at the very
least going organic and vegetarian. If you can
handle the restrictions, these dietary changes
can be beneficial, but make sure you get
enough protein and amino acids.

no specific link is found between deodorant
and cancer, I would avoid this, especially if
you have already had a breast cancer diagnosis.
(6) Also avoid creams, lotions, cosmetics and
sunscreens that contain non-organic products.
I HIGHLY recommend testing for both heavy
metals and environmental toxin exposure,
depending on where you grew up, where you
live now and any potential exposure pertinent
to your occupation. Both tests are simple; the
presence of metal contaminants in the body
can be determined by testing a hair sample and
environmental toxins can be determined by a
simple blood test. You can consult a natural
medicine doctor or naturopath to order those
tests. If the results come back positive, it
would be beneficial to do a cleanse or chelation
therapy to flush the chemicals out.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only important to be selective about There have been numerous doctors persecuted
what we are putting IN our bodies, but also and forced out of the United States for their
ON our bodies. One of the most commonly work on curing cancer. One is Dr. Hoxsey
whose clinic is still functioning in Mexico and
the other is a nurse named Rene Caisse. (7)
She created a formula called Essiac, which
is still available at www.essiac-canada.com.
I had a client that used this formula on her
husband with melanoma and his recovery was
much quicker than expected.

used products is
deodorant containing
aluminum. We are
smearing this daily
on some of the most
absorbent tissue in
the body. Though

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Cancer and health are also affected by personal
attitude and mental outlook. As I have
mentioned before, I see a large correlation
between what we think and what happens in
our bodies. I believe one of the reasons we
get sick is to let us know something is out of
balance with our emotional/spiritual side. Our
emotions need to let us know that something
must change. When we ignore the emotions
we open up the window for sickness. I also
believe that malfunctions in our body are the
bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way to communicate that something is

June 2011

wrong in our mind and spirit. I believe that
if we don’t acknowledge our emotional needs
and issues, this energy has to go somewhere
and manifests as illness or dis-ease. A child
will only scream mommy, mommy, mommy,
mommy for so long before he starts pulling
things off shelves. This is also what our
emotions do. The carpal tunnel, sciatica,
neck pain, headaches, psoriasis and cancer is
our emotional child pulling things off shelves
because it has been ignored. I’m not saying
that illness is 100% emotionally formed. There
are toxins, poisons and hereditary components
to consider. But if our emotions are even
responsible for 10% of our illnesses and we
can control them, why wouldn’t we?

Visualization for Healing Cancer

Get into a relaxed place, in a comfortable
position. Breathe deeply and try to quiet the
mind. Get a picture in your head of what you
think the cancer looks like. It can be a ball,
a blob, whatever it is to you. Picture it in the
area of the body where it is growing. As you
inhale, send the breath to that organ and tumor
and picture it shooting at it, eating it, dissolving
it, whatever scene works for you. I always saw
it as the cavalry coming over the hill in the old
movies to save the day. That cavalry are your
white blood cells and they are surrounding the
tumor to get rid of it. Hold the picture of the
tumor disappearing for as long as you can. Do
this visualization as many times during the day
If you have already started chemotherapy or as possible. I have seen amazing results with
radiation treatments, greet it as a positive thing. this type of meditation.
As it’s going into your body, picture it fighting
the cancer and see the tumors shrinking. If you
fight against the chemo and dread it, or see it
as a poisonous enemy, it will not work as well
for you.
Dr. Kathy Gruver, PhD is a health
And last but not least, I encourage you to
practitioner,
author,
speaker
and
communicate with your health providers. Ask
educator. Her first book, The Alternative
questions, do your own research and get a
Medicine Cabinet is available at her
second, third and fourth opinion if necessary.
website along with free health tips, a
And, if it is in your nature, seek out more
monthly newsletter and resources. www.
natural cures such those we have covered
thealternativemedicinecabinet.com
above. We need to be our own advocate. Good
luck and good health.

Bio

Resources
1. A diet high in fat significantly increases a woman’s risk of developing invasive breast cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers at
the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
2. http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/what_is_it/hormone_role.jsp
3. http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/news/in-vivo/Vol2_Iss10_may26_03/index.html
4. Rosenthal, M.S. (2001). Stopping Cancer at the Source. Canada: Trafford Publishing. Pg. 72-73.
5. http://www.hyperbaricchambertreatment.com/
6. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo
7. http://essiacinfo.org

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W
O
R
K
S
I
T
E

Early Detection is Key ~
Breast Cancer Awareness
By Melissa Mayfield

B

reast cancer is the 5th leading cause of death among women over the age
of 40. However, if diagnosed with breast cancer in its earliest stages, it
actually has a very high survival rate. This is why it is so important to
inform the public on issues such as early detection, symptoms, risk factors and
healthy habits to help ward off breast cancer.

Early Detection

below do not necessarily indicate breast
cancer, but they can be a warning sign
Women of all ages are advised to and should probably be checked out by a
administer self breast exams on a doctor just in case:
monthly basis. Starting this at a young
age familiarizes you with your own • A new lump or bump in the breast
or underarm
normal breast tissue; this will make you
more capable of noticing an irregularity • Any discharge from the nipple
such as a lump if it should ever occur.
Risk of breast cancer increases with • Irritation or dimpling of the breast
skin
age, which is why women should begin
getting mammograms once they turn • Change in breast size or shape
40, on an annual or bi-annual basis. If • Inversion or pulling of the nipple
you have an immediate relative who was
diagnosed with breast cancer you should • Flaky skin or (abnormal) redness in
the nipple and/or breast
talk to your doctor about when you
should start receiving mammograms, • Pain in any area of the breast
as they may want you to begin earlier.
When breast cancer firsts strikes it may Risk Factors
not have any signs or symptoms, which
would make it impossible to pick up on Breast cancer occurs when breast cells
a self exam. However, mammograms begin growing abnormally and then
(X-rays of the breast) can pick up on these cells form a tumor. However,
breast cancer in its earliest stage; this doctors have not discovered exactly
makes them a doctor’s best chance to what causes the cells to mutate in some
diagnose breast cancer early.
people and not in others. Therefore, it

W
E
L
L
N
E
S
S

is possible for anyone to develop breast
cancer, but there are some factors that
can increase your risk.

Symptoms

There are some common symptoms
that many women experience when Being Female – Breast cancer is far
they have breast cancer. The symptoms more prevalent in women than men. For

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every 100 women diagnosed, there is less than 1 man
diagnosed

Hormone Therapy – Women who take hormone
medications that contain estrogen and progesterone
to help regulate symptoms of menopause have an
increased risk

Personal Breast Cancer History – If you have
already had cancer in 1 breast, you have an increased
risk of developing it in the other breast
Radiation – Repeated exposure to radiation, such
as receiving a large number of chest X-rays also
Family History – 5% - 10% of breast cancer cases increases breast cancer risk
are linked to a genetic mutation that is passed down
amongst family members, which raises one’s risk
Healthy Habits
Hormonal Changes – If you begin your period
before age 12, have your first baby after age 35, or
begin menopause after age 55, there is an increased
risk

There are some risk factors that we can’t control
such as being female or having a family history of
breast cancer; however there are positive steps that
we can take in our daily lives to help reduce the risk.
Maintaining a healthy weight is an important factor
Obesity – Being severely overweight increases your in reducing your risk of developing breast cancer.
breast cancer risk
Staying fit can be done through diet and exercise,
both of which offer additional cancer fighting
Alcohol – Excessive drinking may increase your risk benefits. Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day for

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5 for days a week has been shown to cut down cancer
risk. Foods that are high in antioxidants and antiinflammatory properties such as tomatoes, broccoli,
and cauliflower are thought to have powerful
cancer fighting abilities. Fatty fish such as salmon
has also been shown to help ward off breast cancer
because they are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which
have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Limited
research has shown that cancer cells actually die in
test tubes when exposed to garlic, so go ahead and
pile it on! As for our cancer prevention beverage of
choice, reach for some green tea. Green tea contains
EGCG, which is an extremely powerful antioxidant.
Limit your alcohol consumption, as an excess of one
drink per day can increase your risk. Finally, if you
are experiencing menopause, try to limit your use of
hormone therapy. If your post-menopausal symptoms
are unbearable use the lowest dose of hormone
therapy possible for the shortest amount of time.

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Remember, early detection is a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best chance
of surviving a breast cancer diagnosis, so be sure to
schedule yourself a mammogram if you are over 40
and have not had one within two years! Employers
who have an incentivized wellness program should
consider including yearly mammograms for woman
over age 40 part of the requirements for gaining
incentives to help drive early detection.

About eni:
eni provides customized wellness programs, designed
with evidence based research and the medical
expertise of the Harvard School of Public Health.
eniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate goal is to create dynamic solutions
that actively engage, educate, and empower a happy,
healthy, more productive workforce. Learn more at
www.eniweb.com or call us at 1.800.364.4748

June 2011

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our body is made of trillions
of cells. Cells make up
every single organ, gland and
tissue in the body. All these
cells amazingly came from one cell
created at conception. That single
cell was formed by the union of half
of your motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DNA and half of
your fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DNA. How that egg
and sperm came together to join those
two halves of DNA and create a brand
new you is a whole other discussion,
but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure you get the idea! Your
parents probably have a good story
regarding that particular event.

multiplying until all the parts in your
body were made and were functioning
perfectly together. The first system
that was fully functional was your
circulatory system, the heart and
the blood vessels. This was so that
all those growing and dividing cells
could get the nutrients they needed to
survive and continue forming the end
product for birth.

The first system that started to take
shape, however, was the nervous
system. The nervous system is what
coordinated those cells to take on the
proper structure and function based on
At conception, that single cell was your genetic blueprint. Even though
programmed to start dividing and it was the first one to take shape, it is
designing you.
It contained the the last one to become fully functional
blueprint and the energy to start some time after birth. This is one of

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the reasons babies don’t get up and walk right
away and why their reflexes are different; it
takes upwards of a year for all those nerves
to become fully functional through a process
called myelination.
That amazing energy that was present inside
that single microscopic cell at conception is still
alive and well inside you today fuelling your
very existence. This inborn intelligence (that
science calls Innate) allows you to live to your
body’s genetic potential on a daily basis. All
we have to do is eat well, exercise, sleep and
control our exposure as well as our response
to physical, chemical and emotional stress
and we’ll live a healthy life each and every
day for as long as possible. This is primarily
accomplished through a perfectly functioning,
irritation free nervous system.
what our bodies are able to filter and levels can
build up in the body causing cellular damage.
The nervous system’s job is to support our Because cells are always dividing and old cells
body’s ability to interact with the environment, are being replace with new ones, this can affect
both internally and externally. If it’s sunny, we the health and quality of that cell regeneration.
squint. If we eat something, we digest it and A good environment leads to good cell
absorb it. If we get overloaded with work, regeneration; a bad environment (physically,
we can feel stressed. If we get recognised for chemically and emotionally) can lead to bad cell
a job well done, we celebrate and feel good regeneration. This is thought to be a probable
about ourselves. This interaction with the contributor to certain kinds of cancers as well as
environment occurs on a positive and a negative many other health conditions.
level. Our body is designed and programmed to
deal with both scenarios and a healthy amount Therefore, throughout our lives, whether it is
of exposure to stress, both good and bad, will in the workplace or at home, our bodies can be
lead to a strong, coordinated and productive exposed to conditions that challenge the cells in
body.
a way that does not allow for them to ideally take
care of themselves. This can lead to abnormal
Too much of either stress, however, will create function in the cells that does not allow them
an imbalance in the body and start to cause wear to divide and regenerate like normal. This
and tear on the parts that need to deal with that is, unfortunately, only one source of how and
stress. This occurs right down to the cellular where the cell division can go wrong.
level. If, for example, we are exposed to
chemicals at work like solvents or copier toners Science continues to uncover more and more
or asbestos, the level of irritation may exceed incredible features of how our cells function

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and interact. Much of this research is in hopes
of discovering how cancers occur in the body
and how to treat them when they do. Scientists
now know that through our genetics we can be
predisposed to certain cancers. By mapping
our human DNA and being able to read that
blueprint that creates us, we can also read that
DNA to see if parts of it are similar to the DNA
of those people who have health problems like
certain cancers.
Sure enough, complex health problems like
certain cancers as well as heart disease, diabetes,
Alzheimer’s and many others have been shown
to have a genetic component. Not only do
environmental factors play a role in irritating our
cells and causing them to multiply incorrectly,
but our cells themselves may have changes to
the ideal blueprint that controls them and makes
them more likely to become dysfunctional. Tests
are now available to help determine if someone
is predisposed to certain health problems like
some forms of cancer in order to help with
early detection and early intervention as well
as lifestyle planning. Just because someone is
predisposed, it does not mean they will develop
the condition. Environmental factors still play
a very large role in this respect.
So what is the relevance to the workplace and
the workforce? People will spend roughly a
third of their day during their adult life carrying
out their chosen occupation. This is a significant
portion of our lives that will determine how
healthy we are. And that portion will either be a
positive addition to our health and our life or it
will be a negative one. Given the choice, most
of us would choose to make it a positive one.
As much as we’d like to rely on others to ensure
that happens, in the end, as with all aspects of
our health, it is up to each and every one of us

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to raise our level of awareness for creating a
healthy and productive work experience.
When it comes to cancer, we can start to become
aware of certain amounts of exposure while
at work. Think of what you might be coming
into contact with physically, chemically and
emotionally. Find ways to make that interaction
one that does not overwhelm your body, and
ideally, make it one that actually supports the
body. Take the time to sit down with your
coworkers, managers, supervisors and other
parties to discuss the potential improvements to
the work environment. When you put things into
a cellular perspective to support ideal health,
work production, efficiency and proficiency will
always improve as well. Nature will nurture the
ideal outcomes for everyone involved.

Bio
Dr. David Koivuranta is the founder
of Time Health Management. Time
Health Management is a corporate health
and wellness company. It is founded
on over a decade’s worth of experience
and knowledge derived from treating
employees suffering from ergonomic
stress, strain and disease. It’s time to
manage your corporate health, visit www.
timehealthmanagement.com and receive a
free business evaluation. Learn why our
workplace wellness solutions make sense.
For more information email drdave@
timehealthmanagement.com or call 416697-7918. Ask us about our 5 minute
onsite ergonomic and stress reducing
system that should be found in every
successful business.
Visit http://dnatestingcanada.com/ to learn more about
DNA testing.

Employer Sponsored
Cancer Screening

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C
O
L
U
M
N

By Jonathan Spero

W

ith healthcare reform
mandating
coverage
for many preventative
services employers are
taking a closer look at worksite health
screenings. Health screenings not
only assist in accessing the health risk
of population or individual employee,
but also pick up undiagnosed diseases
that can be very costly if untreated.

Before employers implement cancer
screening programs at the workplace,
they need to understand what the
research shows and be guided by
evidence based medicine. Evidence
based medicine aims to apply the
best available evidence gained from
scientific method to clinical decisionmaking. And when it comes to cancer
screening, evidence medicine is even
more important as the stakes are high
Employer
sponsored
metabolic and there exists much emotional bias.
screenings are growing in popularity
and identify undiagnosed conditions So what is the evidence for or against
such as high blood pressure, elevated cancer screenings? And what are the
cholesterol, and diabetes. So what nationally recognized guidelines?
about cancer screenings? Cancer
screening exams and tests can pick up Over 11 million people in the United
life threatening cancers early in the States have some form of cancer and
disease increasing the likelihood of a there are more than 200 different
cure.
types of cancer. The following are the

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10 most commonly diagnosed cancer types in
2009 and the estimated number of new cancer
patients diagnosed each year:

• Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3
years for women in their 20s and 30s and every
year for women 40 and over

The FDA has approved the use of the PSA test
along with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to help
detect prostate cancer in men 50 years of age
or older; together, these tests can help doctors
Cancer Screenings Recommendations detect prostate cancer in men who have no
symptoms of the disease. In fact, most doctors
Below are the current nationally recognized do recommend these tests for their male patients.
cancer screening recommendations. The timing However, as previously stated, the research has
and frequency of the testing can be modified not yet proven that it will decrease the death
based on family history and genetic testing.
rate related to this disease in a population.

• Yearly mammograms are recommended Some employers have started ordering the cancer
starting at age 40 and continuing for as long a antigen 125 (CA 125) blood test for their health
woman is in good health
screenings. This test is NOT recommended for

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Summary
Over the next decade several major advances
in cancer screening hold enormous promise.
However, at this time, effective cancer screening
is limited to only a few cancers. Incorporating
non-evidence based cancer screening tests into
an employer sponsored health screening can
actually do more harm than good. False positives
can lead to unnecessary follow up procedures,
costs, and employee concerns. Employers who
are considering health screenings should keep
this in mind and stick to nationally recognized
cancer-screening guidelines.

Bio
women with an average risk of ovarian cancer.
Why?
While women with ovarian cancer often have
an elevated level of CA 125, an elevated CA
125 level doesn’t always mean you have ovarian
cancer. Some women with ovarian cancer
never have an elevated CA 125 level. And there
exist many other conditions (other than ovarian
cancer) that can cause an elevated CA 125 level.
For these reasons, doctors don’t recommend
CA 125 testing in women with an average risk
of ovarian cancer. Women with a high risk of
ovarian cancer, such as those with mutations in
the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increase
the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, may
consider periodic CA 125 testing. But even
in these high-risk situations, there’s some
disagreement about the usefulness of the CA
125 test.

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Jonathan Spero, MD, is CEO of InHouse
Physicians and board certified in Internal
Medicine. Dr. Spero is an expert in
the field of targeted employee wellness
programs with measureable ROIs.
InHouse Physicians is a global employee
health and wellness provider delivering
innovative cost containment solutions to
corporations around the world. InHouse
Physicians high touch employee health
services include a wide range of offerings
such as cost effective worksite health
centers, evidence based “pre-disease”
wellness initiatives, health screenings
plus analytics, flu vaccinations, and travel
medicine. To learn more about InHouse
Physicians visit their website at www.
inhousephysicians.com or Dr. Spero can
be reached at jspero@ihphysicians.com.